Former NJIT development chief launches real estate firm

The former chief of the New Jersey Institute of Technology's $1.3 billion redevelopment project in Newark has launched a new firm focused on urban revitalization.

Monique King-Viehland, who served as NJIT's director of campus development, has established Obsidian Development LLC in Trenton, she announced recently. The new venture will both initiate development and provide consulting services for other organizations, with a focus on residential and mixed-use projects.

At NJIT, King-Viehland also was president of Campus Gateway Development Inc., a subsidiary focused on the sweeping 23-acre redevelopment project around the Brick City campus. The first phase, an $80 million project known as Warren Street Village, opened its doors in September and boosted the school's housing stock by 600 beds, to 2,200.

King-Viehland oversaw development of the first phase and initiated the $100 million second phase, which includes residential, retail and structured parking space, she said. All told, the Gateway project will feature four phases aimed at transforming Newark's University Heights neighborhood.

King-Viehland is a former executive director of the Capital City Redevelopment Corp., the state agency charged with overseeing real estate projects in Trenton's capital district.

In a news release, King-Viehland said Obsidian already has projects in its pipeline.

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Joshua Burd

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Josh Burd covers real estate, economic development and sports and entertainment. Before joining NJBIZ in 2011, he spent four years as a metro reporter in Central Jersey. Email him at joshb@njbiz.com.